I highly doubt that it will be released in early 2017 (the first part). If you actually look at the links provided in the articles, as well as the articles themselves, they are pretty old. The first link lists sources that date back to April of this year, as well as even last year.

To be honest, I think I'd rather just prefer a moderate upgrade to the graphics (like say to FFX level) and keep the game the same otherwise more or less.

I don't trust Square-Enix to "improve" the game by "updating" it with more modern mechanics and probably changing the story.

the interview is from June 2015, we need new info D:

telltale games is episodic, Telltale's "Batman" game is episodic.

Games like the FFXIII trilogy is not episodic, it is a multipart game, each game disc is full of 50-60 hours of content. Or do you think FFXIII is episodic too? Episodes are typically short games. Multi part however is normally three full games. A trilogy of full games if you like. You can't say a game like FF XIII is the same as a Walking Dead episode as that simply isn't true as one offers way more content.

Does this answer your question?

Literally how everyone should read this.

Holiday 2017 will be perfect. 

2017 is also the 20th anniversary, so that makes sense.

If it only had been like this, and I would have zero problems with it, but no, they will probably butcher the game like in the first option....

Oh well, not buying this game until it is complete.

For SE would be better release it early 2017, if they want to release the 2 other parts on the actual console generation too...

DUDE, SPOILER!

This. You can argue all you want about the length of those episodes making a difference, but in the end, you've split one story into 3. That's not to say I hate the way they've done it, cause I prefer this way if we can get the first Episode by holiday 2017, which is when I actually do expect it.